Hush: Family Secrets by Blue Saffire

without looking at who is calling. Most likely it is my father after just realizing I have run off. I shouldn’t take his calls but it is better to get it over with and out of the way. I will not be returning home until this is resolved in a manner pleasing to me.
    “Hello,” I say groggily into the phone.
    “Where the hell are you,” an angry voice bellows through the line. I pull the phone away from my ear to look at it. Obviously someone has the wrong number.
    I see the caller ID says asshat and I frown. Raphael had somehow gotten a hold of my cell phone number awhile back. Once he started to call me on a regular I programmed it as asshat to monitor and avoid his calls. I suck my teeth and put the phone back to my ear.
    “You must have the wrong number. I’ll hang up so you can call the right person,” I say.
    “Valentina, I have the right damn number. I’m here at the house and you are not here. It is seven thirty in the morning, where the hell are you?” He growls into the phone.
    I’m beyond annoyed now. I have no idea who he thinks he is talking to and to add to my ire Uri has started to stir. I have woken him with this stupid call. He was so tired last night. I had been a little disappointed that he was too tired to take things further than that hot kiss, but when I really looked into his eyes they were red rimmed and he was forming circles under those beautiful eyes of his.
    “I have no idea why you are looking for me, but if I were you I would hang up now,” I seethe through the phone.
    “I am looking for you because you are my fiancée. I wanted to take you to see my jeweler so you could pick out a ring since you always send my gifts back. I wanted to allow you to pick something to your liking,” Raphael snarled.
    “At seven thirty in the morning,” I snap.
    He snorts. “I thought we could spend some time together,” his voice turns husky with lust that turns my stomach. “You are my fiancée now.”
    “No I am not. You can actually lose my number and never call me again,” I hiss into the phone. I hang up on whatever Raphael’s response is.
    I have felt his eyes on me for a few moments now. I turn slowly to see the storm brewing in his amazing ice blue eyes. Uri looks like he is going to explode as his eyes roll over my face. When my phone starts to ring again I wince. Raphael really is too stupid for his own good.
    Uri plucks the phone from my hand and answers it. “Hello,” he says into the phone, accent thicker than usual and heavy with sleep.
    I strained to hear what is being said on the other end. Uri presses he lips and I can’t hear much. “Hello,” Uri hissed again.
    This time something is said and an evil smile stretches across Uri’s face. A shiver runs down my spine with his next words. “This is her husband motherfucker. Don’t call my wife’s phone again,” With that Uri hangs up.
    He looks at the screen on my phone then tosses it on the nightstand on his side of the bed. He leans into me kissing my temple then falls back against the bed throwing a muscled arm over his head.
    “It is late, I didn’t mean for us to sleep in this late,” Uri sighs. “My assistant is to be here in a half hour to take you for your dress fitting. Make sure to pick whatever you want. You have no limit. I just need one more hour. I will see you this evening at the ceremony.”
    “Wait, what?” I ask in astonishment. I know he said he would marry me last night but I hadn’t thought he meant so soon. I’m not even sure how I feel about all of this. I know he is just trying to help me.
    I just don’t want him doing this out of pity. I have been nothing but a mess sense seeing him last night. None of this is me. I haven’t been vulnerable like this in so long. I bite my lip as I contemplate whether or not I can go through with this just to avoid marrying Raphael.
    Uri lifts his arm and looks at me long and hard. “Did you think I was playing some game last night? I told you I would